A Co Fermanagh woman has described how her "life changed forever" after suffering complications during surgery, which left her unable to swallow properly.
Clare Flanagan (29) from Killadeas was being treated for a tumour close to her ear when she suffered dysphagia, which affected her speech and her ability to eat and drink.
She is speaking out about her experience to highlight Swallowing Awareness Day, which takes place tomorrow and aims to highlight how dysphagia or swallowing difficulties can have a huge impact on a person's health.
Ms Flanagan developed the condition as a result of a tumour which was affecting the blood supply in her head. Her condition was so rare that she was referred to Birmingham for surgery, which involved cutting off the blood supply to the tumour.
"During my surgery, some of the nerves were damaged. When I woke up after the surgery, I was very groggy, as you would expect, but the left hand side of my body was affected," she said.
"I thought it would pass, but four days later I still looked like a stroke patient and my speech and swallow was affected, I couldn't eat or drink."
Ms Flanagan said she quickly received "invaluable support" from the speech and language therapy unit of the Western Health and Social Care Trust, which involved helping her adapt to her change in circumstances, including how to change her food to enable her to swallow.
"It was all a very negative experience, but Eileen Tomney from the Western Trust saved my life, she turned things around for me," she said.
"She introduced to me textured medication and thickened fluids, which helped me to control my swallow. Her input was amazing, she gave me back some confidence.
"There's a lot of stereotypes surrounding dysphagia, but until you live a day like I have, you couldn't understand the difficulties you have to face.
"It changes your entire life and that's why I feel raising awareness is so important to help others."
Ceara Gallagher from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists said they have a "unique role in the assessment, diagnosis and management of swallowing difficulties".
"Once a detailed and accurate assessment has been carried out, a speech and language therapist will work with an individual to try and help them regain their swallowing through exercises and techniques," she said.
"This will always be tailored to the specific case and speech and language therapists take the individual’s and their families’ preferences into account, helping to improve their quality of life and patient safety.
"We also work in multi-disciplinary teams with other health professionals such as dieticians and nurses.
"I have seen the lives of patients with swallowing difficulties transformed through speech and language therapy which has helped them to cope with the impacts of dysphagia."
